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Herpetic stromal keratitis in the reconstituted scid mouse model
C M Mercadal1, D M Bouley, D DeStephano
1Department of Microbiology and Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37996-0845.
Journal of Virology
|June 1, 1993
Summary
Herpes simplex virus type 1 causes severe eye inflammation (herpetic stromal keratitis) mediated by CD4+ T cells. Severe Combined Immunodeficient (SCID) mice reconstituted with T cells provide a model to study this immunopathological disease.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infections can cause corneal inflammation, leading to blindness.
- The immunopathological nature of herpetic stromal keratitis (HSK) is suspected but not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish HSK as an immunopathological disease.
- To investigate the immunological mechanisms underlying HSK.
- To utilize Severe Combined Immunodeficient (SCID) mice as a model for HSK research.
Main Methods:
- Corneal infections were induced in C.B-17 scid/scid mice.
- Mice were reconstituted with T lymphocytes (CD4+ and CD8+ subsets).
- Disease development, including HSK and encephalitis, was monitored.
Main Results:
- Unreconstituted SCID mice succumbed to encephalitis without developing HSK.
- SCID mice reconstituted with T cells developed severe HSK lesions.
- CD4+ T cells were identified as essential mediators of HSK.
- CD8+ T cells conferred protection against lethal encephalitis.
Conclusions:
- HSK is confirmed as an immunopathological disease.
- SCID mice reconstituted with T cells serve as a valuable model for studying HSK.
- The findings highlight the critical roles of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in HSK pathogenesis and outcome.